Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6431887
-
Patent Number
6,431,887
-
Date Filed
Wednesday, May 31, 200024 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, August 13, 200221 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 439 108
- 439 607
- 439 696
- 439 610
- 439 352
- 439 357
- 439 358
- 439 939
- 439 906
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
An electrical connector is provided having a conductive receptacle assembly with walls including grounding contacts, and a conductive plug member for connection to the receptacle assembly. The plug member includes peripheral surfaces that electrically engage grounding contacts on the receptacle assembly. A latch assembly is mounted to the plug member and includes a spring biasing face place that lockably engages one wall of the receptacle assembly. The latch assembly is conductive to afford a grounding correction between the plug member and receptacle assembly along one peripheral wall therebetween. The plug is formed with upper and lower shells, each of which is formed as a unitary structure, such as during a diecast molding procedure. The upper and lower shells are conductive and formed with substantially no openings therein to define a chamber therebetween offering significant EMI shielding characteristics. A PC equalization board is enclosed within the upper and lower shells. The PC equalization board is maintained in a fixed position and orientation by directly contacting shelves and keying protrusions formed integrally on the interior surfaces of the sides of one of the upper and lower shells.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The preferred embodiments of the present invention generally relate to electrical connectors for use with high speed serial data, and more particularly, to connector assemblies for transferring high speed serial data from a cable to a circuit board.
In the past, electrical cable assemblies have been proposed for connecting electrical cable to circuit boards. Conventional cable assemblies have been provided with an equalizer circuit board within the connector for performing signal conditioning. Performing signal conditioning within a circuit in the connector assembly, reduces the time required to incorporate signal conditioning circuit elements with a cable assembly and reduces the time required for connection of the circuit elements with the electrical contacts and the cable conductors. One example of a conventional cable assembly with an equalizer board is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,766,027, commonly owned with the present application.
Conventional high speed serial data connectors (HSSDC) comprise a plug and receptacle combination interconnected through contact fingers. The plug receives an insulated holder that, in turn, receives an equalizer card. The equalizer card includes signal conditioning circuitry.
HSSDC connectors form a grounding plane surrounding the adjoining surfaces of the receptacle and plug in order to afford electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding around the contact fingers forming the high speed serial data connection between the plug and receptacle. In conventional HSSDC connectors, the grounding plane has been maintained by locating a plurality of grounding beams on the top, bottom and side walls of the receptacle and engaging the top, bottom and side surfaces of the plug. Conventional grounding beams are J-shaped integral extensions of the walls and are bent to project forward, upward and into the opening of the receptacle. The J-shaped ground beams are biased inward to maintain an electrical connection with the plug once inserted.
However, J-shaped grounding beams take up an operation region inside the receptacle between the receptacle and plug walls. The region thickness substantially equals the radius of the J-shaped portion of the grounding beam. Consequently, the height and width of the opening in the receptacle must be greater than the height and width of the plug by an amount at least equal to the curved radius of the grounding beams. When grounding beams are located above, below and on either side of the plug, they undesirably increase the height and width of the receptacle. Certain applications for HSSDC connectors have significant space constraints.
In addition, the distance between the grounding beams should be maintained less than a predetermined maximum spacing. Otherwise, energy due to high speed signals radiates from the connection of the plug and receptacle. The spacing between grounding beams controls the frequency range at which signals may be carried through the connection. As the frequency of the transmitted signal increases, the maximum acceptable distance between the grounding beams decreases. The maximum distance is calculated between the two grounding beams that are furthest from one another (e.g., top to bottom, side to side, top to side or side to bottom). The connector assembly is preferably operable with frequencies having a wavelength range between six and twenty-four times greater than the largest distance between any two grounding beams.
The need for a large portion of the perimeter to be covered with grounding contacts is balanced with other design considerations, such as physical constraints, material cost, complexity and the forces needed to connect the plug and receptacle. As additional grounding beams or contacts are added, the plug becomes harder to insert into the receptacle since each contact presents a contact force to the plug that must be overcome to bend the contact open. A compromise is reached between the cost, complexity, physical size, forces needed to insert the plug and the EMI shielding characteristics of the connector.
Conventional HSSDC assemblies have used sheet metal to construct the plug and receptacle. Sheet metal is folded into a desired configuration. When protrusions, shelves and other features are desired to be added to the plug, holes must be punched through the sheet metal shell, or separate components must be fitted in the sheet metal to offer the features. Components, separate and apart from the metal shell, are also provided to latch the plug in the receptacle. It is undesirable to punch holes through the metal shell since the openings permit leakage of electromagnetic radiation. Conventional HSSDC connectors provide a plastic insert into the plug metal shell. The plastic insert includes the desired features for holding the PC equalizing board.
A need exists for an improved HSSDC connection assembly that simplifies the number of parts needed to construct the connector and reduces the physical dimensions of the connector without sacrificing electrical performance, latching performance or connection forces. It is an object of the preferred embodiments of the present invention to meet one or more of these needs and other objectives that will become apparent from the description and drawings set forth below.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with at least one preferred embodiment of the present invention, an electrical connector is provided having a conductive receptacle assembly with walls defining a connector opening. At least one of the walls includes grounding contacts. The electrical connector further includes a conductive plug member for connection to the receptacle assembly through the connector opening. The plug member includes peripheral surfaces that are electrically engaged by the ground contacts on the walls of the receptacle assembly. A latch assembly is mounted to the plug member. The latch assembly includes a spring bias facing plate that lockably engages one of the side walls of the receptacle when the plug is inserted into the receptacle. The latch assembly is conductive and maintains a grounding connection between the plug member and a wall of the receptacle to which the latch is secured. The grounding contacts maintain grounding connections between the remaining walls of the receptacle and the walls of the plug member in order that the latch assembly and grounding contact form a grounding plane that surround the periphery of the plug.
In accordance with one embodiment, the latch assembly includes a principal body extending laterally to be formed integrally with side flanges. The principal body extends in a longitudinal direction to be formed integral with the facing plate. A locking projection is formed on the facing plate and arranged to align with and directly engage a hole in the receptacle assembly. The facing plate remains bias against the receptacle assembly to maintain the latch and grounding connections. The latch assembly further includes a leading section having a hole and lower lip portion directly engaging a knob and a U-shaped recess in a front face of the plug member. The leading section of the latch is sandwiched between a front face of the upper shell and a cross bar of the lower shell of the plug member when the shells are combined.
In one embodiment, the latch assembly is comprised of a T-shaped body integrally molded with side flanges, the facing plate and a leading edge. The side flanges and leading edge include holes that snapably engage knobs projecting from the exterior of the plug member. The holes and knobs secure the latch assembly to the plug member.
In another embodiment, the receptacle includes multiple J-shaped ground beams provided along at least one wall of the receptacle proximate the opening thereto through which the plug is received. The J-shaped grounding beams are formed integral with lead edges of the walls of the receptacle and extend forward, upward and into the receptacle opening to form grounding connections with the plug.
In yet another embodiment, an electrical connector is provided having a plug assembly matingly connected with a receptacle for carrying high speed serial data from a serial cable. The connector includes an upper shell having a top, sides, a back end and front face all formed integrally with one another. A lower shell is provided with a bottom, sides, a back end and a front face all formed integrally with one another. The upper and lower shells sealably join one another along mating edges of the sides, back ends and front faces to form an EMI shielded chamber therein. A PC equalization board having signal conditioning circuitry is enclosed within the upper and lower shells. The PC equalization board includes side edges having a contour that conforms to an interior contour of the side walls. The PC equalization board directly contacts and is supported by the interior surfaces of the side walls of the upper and lower shells to maintain the PC board in a desired horizontal and vertical orientation and relation to the plug. The mating edges of the sides, front face and back end of the lower shell include a skirt. Corresponding edges of the sides, front face and back end of the upper shell include a recess configured to mate with the skirt on the lower shell in order to provide an EMI shielded connection therebetween.
In one embodiment of the plug, the front face of the upper shell includes pens extending forward therefrom. The front face of the lower shell includes a cross bar connecting the sides thereof. The pins on the upper shell are inserted under the crossbar of the lower shell to retain the front faces of the upper and lower shells securely engaged with one another.
In another embodiment of the plug, the back ends of the upper and lower shells includes integral upper and lower tubular sections, respectively. When the upper and lower shells are combined, the upper and lower tubular sections mate with one another to form a circular opening to receive the cable. A ferrule is inserted over the upper and lower tubular sections and crimped thereon to secure the back ends of the shells to one another.
In another embodiment of the plug, the interior surfaces of the lower shell include integral protrusions defining shells directly support the PC equalization board in a desired vertical position and orientation. The interior surfaces of the lower shell also include integral protrusions defining keys that are received within recesses in either side of the PC board to maintain the PC board in a desired horizontal position and orientation with respect to the plug.
In yet another embodiment of the plug, the bottom of the shell is provided with a notch, while the receptacle is provided with a polarizing key. The notch and polarizing key are configured to align with one another only when the plug is properly oriented relative to the receptacle. The plug may not be inserted into the receptacle until the polarizing key is aligned with a notch, thereby preventing incorrect connection.
In one embodiment, the upper and lower shells are formed of diecast injection molded conductive material.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings embodiments which are presently preferred. It should be understood, however, that the present invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentality shown in the attached drawings.
FIG. 1
illustrates a perspective view of a plug formed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2
illustrates a perspective view of a receptacle shell formed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3
illustrates a perspective view of an insulated housing and contact fingers formed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4
illustrates a perspective view of upper and lower shells included within a plug formed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5
illustrates a perspective view of a latch assembly mounted to the upper and lower shells in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6
illustrates a portion of a quad cable and wire organizer received within a plug in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7
illustrates a perspective view of a ferrule and strain relief mounted to a plug in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8
illustrates a top perspective view of a PC equalizer board formed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9
illustrates a bottom perspective view of a PC equalizer board formed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 10
illustrates a top plan view of a plug formed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 11
illustrates a side plan view of a plug formed in accordance with a preferred embodiment the present invention.
FIG. 12
illustrates a bottom plan view of a plug formed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 13
is a top plan view of a receptacle formed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 14
is a side plan view of a receptacle formed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 15
is a bottom plan view of a receptacle formed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 16
is a front plan view of a receptacle formed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 17
is a perspective view of a receptacle formed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 18
is a front plan view of a plug formed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1
illustrates a perspective view of a plug assembly
10
configured in accordance to one preferred embodiment of the present invention. The plug assembly
10
includes an upper shell
12
and a lower shell
14
enclosing a PC equalization board
16
. The plug assembly
10
also includes a latch assembly
18
removably mounted to the upper and lower shells
12
and
14
. The plug assembly
10
is securely mounted to the end of a cable
30
capable of transmitting high speed serial data, such as a quad cable and the like. A strain relief
20
is secured to the back end of the upper and lower shells
12
and
14
to protect the interconnection between the plug assembly
10
and the cable
30
. The strain relief
20
includes multiple notches
22
cut therein to afford flexibility to the strain relief
20
. The upper and lower shells
12
and
14
are formed through diecast molding of a conductive material, such as zinc, magnesium and the like. The latch assembly
18
is stamped and formed of phosphorous bronze, brass and the like.
FIG. 2
illustrates a perspective view of a socket or receptacle shield
50
formed in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the present invention. The receptacle shield
50
snappingly receives and is secured to the plug
10
to form a mating electrical connection therebetween. The receptacle shield
50
includes a top
52
, sides
54
and bottom
56
forming four walls that define a front face
62
to receive the plug
10
. A rear face
58
is closed with a back wall
57
. The receptacle shield
50
may be formed of sheet material folded around an insulated housing
60
(FIG.
3
).
FIG. 3
illustrates the insulated housing
60
and a plurality of contact fingers
64
to be mounted therein. Each contact finger
64
is formed in an L-shape with horizontal and vertical legs
66
and
68
. The horizontal legs
66
include a spoon-shaped contact region
70
on an outer end, while vertical legs
68
include an elbow-shaped contact region
72
on the outer end. The spoon-shaped contact regions
70
frictionally engage contact pads
24
on the PC board
16
. The elbow-shaped contact regions
72
are soldered to surface mount, contact pads on a motherboard (not shown), to which the receptacle shield
50
is securely mounted. The housing
60
includes a plug receiving opening
74
therein that accepts the front edge of the PC board
16
. The opening
74
includes a plurality of projections
76
extending downward from an upper edge of the opening
74
to define recessed slots
78
therebetween. The slots
78
receive the horizontal legs
66
of the contact fingers
64
. The housing
60
maintains the contact fingers
64
in a predetermined position and orientation by frictionally mounting the horizontal legs
66
of the contact fingers
64
in the slots
78
between the projections
76
. The bottom of the housing
60
includes pins
80
and
82
that are received through holes in the receptacle shield
50
and motherboard to align, and secure in place, the housing
60
. The housing
60
includes upper and lower ledges
81
and
83
projecting forward from a body. The lower ledge
83
includes grooves
85
, and a polarizing key
84
. The upper and lower ledges
81
and
83
cooperate to guide the plug
10
into the opening
74
. Opposite sides of the housing
60
include recessed notches
86
to receive the guide wings
26
on the plug
10
.
The receptacle shield
50
includes J-shaped grounding beams
90
formed integral with the bottom
56
and projecting forward, upward and into the front face
62
. The grounding beams
90
are biased inward to contact the bottom surface of the lower shell
14
to form grounding connections between the bottom surface of the plug
10
and the receptacle shield
50
. The sides
54
of the receptacle shield
50
include inwardly projecting contact guide wings
92
located near the rear end of the sides
54
. The contact guide wings
92
include base sections punched out of sides
54
. Outer ends of the guide wings
92
are bent to form ramped surfaces
94
projecting inward into the interior of the receptacle shield
50
. The ramped surfaces
94
engage the guide wings
26
on either side of the plug
10
as the guide wings
26
enter notches
86
to form grounding connections therewith. The sides
54
, top
52
and bottom
56
of the receptacle shield
50
further include chassis ground contacts
96
,
98
and
99
, respectively, that project outward. The chassis ground contacts
96
,
98
and
99
form grounding connections with the metal chassis of the computer (not shown). The front edges of the sides
54
and top
52
include guide flanges
100
and
102
, respectively, that are flared outward to form a lead-in area to guide the face of the plug
10
into the receptacle. The bottom
56
includes tabs
104
projecting downward to be received within the motherboard and securely soldered thereto. The back wall
57
includes tabs
106
projecting outward from either side thereof that are folded over and along the sides
56
to cover the seams formed between the back wall
57
and sides
54
when the walls of the receptacle are folded into a desired shape. The top
52
includes a hole
108
near the guide flange
102
to receive a locking member
139
on the plug
10
.
FIGS. 4-8
illustrate perspective views of the components forming the plug
10
and connecting the plug
10
to an end of a cable
30
. The upper and lower shells
12
and
14
(
FIG. 4
) enclose the PC equalization board
16
(
FIG. 8
) and a wire organizer
32
(FIG.
6
). The wire organizer
32
includes upper and lower recesses
34
and
35
which receive corresponding differential pairs
36
and
37
, respectively, of transmit and receive insulated conductive lines. The wire organizer
32
maintains the differential pairs
36
and
37
in a desired arrangement with respect to one another to minimize interference and cross talk caused by high speed signals being carried through the cable
30
at the region within which the cable
30
presents signals onto the PC equalization board
16
. The upper and lower shells
12
and
14
include upper and lower tubular sections
38
and
39
that combine to form a tubular opening through which the cable
30
enters the plug
10
. The shield of the cable is received over the upper and lower tubular sections
38
and
39
and the ferrule is slid over the shield and crimped to secure the upper and lower shells
12
and
14
and shield to one another. The strain relief
20
is then placed over the ferrule
40
to provide additional support to the point of connection between the cable
30
and plug
10
.
The plug
10
is described in more detail hereafter in connection with FIGS.
4
and
10
-
12
.
FIGS. 10-12
illustrate top, side and bottom views, respectively, of the plug
10
. The upper shell
12
includes a top
120
, sides
122
, a front face
124
and a back wall
126
formed integrally with one another. The back wall
126
is also integrally formed with the upper tubular section
38
to form a unitary upper shell
12
. The sides
122
include opposed knobs
128
projecting outward therefrom.
The latch assembly
18
(
FIG. 5
) includes a T-shaped principle section
132
, integrally formed with side flanges
134
, a front or facing plate
136
and a leading section
138
. The front plate
136
includes a locking member
139
extending upward. The guide flange
102
contacts the locking member
139
and biases the front plate downward as the plug
10
is inserted into the receptacle shield
50
. The locking member
139
latchably engages hole
108
(
FIG. 13
) in the top
52
of the receptacle shield
50
when the plug
10
is inserted in the receptacle shield
50
. The side flanges
134
include holes
140
that are snapped over knobs
128
to secure the latch assembly
18
onto the upper shell
12
. The side flanges
134
also include tabs
142
extending downward that are received within recesses
164
in either side
160
of the lower shell
14
when the upper and lower shells
12
and
14
are combined. The leading section
138
includes a hole
144
that receives a knob
146
projecting from the front face
124
of the upper shell
12
. The front face
124
further includes pins
148
and a U-shaped recess
150
. The U-shaped recess
150
receives a lower lip portion
152
of the leading section
138
of the latch assembly
18
.
A travel limiting projection
130
extends upward from the top
120
and is located below the key-shaped principle section
132
proximate the intersection of the T-shaped principle section
132
and front plate
136
. The projection
130
is spaced below the principle section
132
by a distance sufficient to permit the latch assembly
18
to bend downward when the plug
10
is moved into a mating connection with the receptacle shield
50
. The projection
130
is constructed to limit the amount by which the latch assembly
18
is permitted to bend to prevent over straining the connection between the front plate
136
and principle section
132
.
The lower shell
14
is constructed of a unitary diecast molded member including sides
160
, bottom
161
, a front face
162
, and a rear wall
163
. The rear wall
163
is formed integrally with the lower tubular section
39
. The sides
160
include slotted recesses
164
that receive tabs
142
on the latch assembly
18
once assembled. The front edges of the sides
160
form the guide wings
26
. The guide wings
26
are interconnected via a crossbar
166
. The lower shell
14
further includes shelves
168
formed integrally upon the interior surface of the sides
160
to support the PC board
16
. Keys
170
are also formed integrally with the sides
160
to properly orient and align the PC board
16
. A skirt
172
is molded along the upper edge of the sides
160
to be received in a mating relation with the lower edges of the sides
122
of the upper shell
12
. The skirts
172
form a sealed connection between the sides
160
and
122
of the upper and lower shells
12
and
14
. The bottom
161
includes a slot
174
(
FIG. 12
) configured to receive a polarizing key
84
(
FIG. 3
) mounted on the top of the lower ledge
83
of the housing
60
.
During construction, the latch assembly
18
is mounted upon the upper shell
12
by locating the knob
146
in the hole
144
and the lower lip
152
in the U-shaped recess
150
. The side flanges
134
are snapped downward over the sides
122
until the holes
140
receive the knobs
128
. Once the PC board
16
, wire organizer
32
and cable
30
are properly mounted within the plug
10
, the upper shell
12
and latch assembly
18
are combined with the lower shell
14
. To mount the upper and lower shells
12
and
14
to one another, the front face
124
of the upper shell
12
is inserted with the pins
148
located below the crossbar
166
. The upper shell
12
is then rotated downward until tabs
142
are received within recesses
164
and the lower edge of the sides
122
securely mates with the skirt
172
on the upper edge of the sides
160
. Once the tabs
142
are received within recesses
164
, the side flanges
134
are held firmly against the sides
122
of the upper shell
12
, thereby retaining the knobs
128
securely within the holes
140
. The shield of the cable is slid over the upper and lower tubular sections
38
and
39
, the ferrule
40
is slid over the shield and crimped in a frictional manner. The strain relief
20
is then pulled up over the ferrule
40
.
The latch assembly
18
securely locks the plug
10
within the receptacle shield
50
, while the front plate
136
provides a grounding connection along a width of the front plate
136
between the top
120
and top
52
. The width of the latch assembly
18
may be varied to provide adequate grounding characteristics for EMI shielding and to provide a desired biasing force upward against to top
52
of the receptacle shield
50
. By way of example only, the front plate
136
may be as wide as the leading edge of the PC equalizer board
16
.
FIGS. 8 and 9
illustrate the PC equalization board
16
in accordance with at least one preferred embodiment of the present invention. The PC board
16
includes circuit components that perform signal conditioning upon high speed serial data received from cable
30
. The PC board
16
includes front face
182
, back end
186
, top surface
188
, bottom surface
190
and opposed side edges
191
. The front face
182
includes chamfered edges
184
to facilitate insertion of the PC board
16
into the opening
74
of the housing
60
. The top surface
188
includes multiple contact pads
180
and
181
, and ground pads
204
aligned adjacent one another and located proximate the front face
182
. The contact pads
180
,
181
and ground pads
204
electrically and frictionally engage the spoon-shaped contact regions
70
upon contact fingers
64
.
In the example of
FIGS. 8 and 9
, the contact pads
180
on the top surface
188
correspond to a differential pair of either transmit or receive insulated conductors. The differential pair of contact pads
180
are connected to a differential pair of solder pads
194
via linear electrical traces
192
. The differential pair of solder pads
194
are connected to a corresponding differential pair
36
of the cable
30
via a soldering connection. A second differential pair of contact pads
181
are connected through vias
196
to linear traces
198
(
FIG. 9
) on the bottom surface
190
of the PC board
16
. The linear traces
198
expand at the rear end to form equalizing component receiving regions
200
(FIG.
8
). The bottom surface
190
of the PC board
16
also includes a differential pair of solder pads
202
adapted to be electrically connected to differential pair
37
of the cable
30
. The solder pads
202
and regions
200
are separated by non-conductive gaps
212
.
The solder pads.
202
and component receiving regions
200
are spaced apart from one another and configured to receive electrical equalization components
210
spanning the gap
212
therebetween. The equalization components
210
may be varied to afford different desired electrical characteristics to the PC board
16
. For instance, the components
210
may comprise one resistor and one capacitor, the values for which are based upon various signal characteristics of the cable
30
. By way of example only, a cable
30
having an impedance of
100
ohms is operated with a first PC board
16
having one combination of values for components
210
, while a cable
30
having an impedance of
150
ohms is operable with a different PC board
16
having a separate combination of values for components
210
.
The PC board
16
includes an internal grounding plane extending from the back end
186
to the front face
182
and entirely enclosed within the PC board
16
. An edge of the grounding plane is designated by reference numeral
220
. Grounding pads
204
are provided on the top surface
188
proximate the front face
182
. The ground pads
204
are connected to a grounding plane imbedded within and extending along the length of the PC board
16
. The ground pads
204
are connected to the grounding plane through ground vias
206
. Ground solder pads
208
are provided on the top and bottom surfaces
188
and
190
of the PC board
16
. The ground soldering pads
208
are connected to the grounding plane through ground vias
206
. The grounding plane
220
enables interconnection of grounding pads
204
and grounding solder pads
208
. Interconnects
196
do not electrically communicate with the grounding plane
220
.
The configuration of contact pads
180
,
181
, and ground pads
204
along the top surface
188
may be varied, provided that the configuration of contact and grounding pads does not afford undue reflection, signal interference or cross talk. According to at least one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the contact pads
180
,
181
and ground pads
204
are arranged to include ground pads
204
proximate opposite sides
191
while contact pads
181
and contact pads
180
are separated by a third grounding pad
204
. Hence, the contact and ground pad configuration includes one ground pad, two contact pads, one ground pad, two contact pads, and one ground pad. Adjacent contact pads in the preferred embodiment of
FIGS. 8 and 9
include contact pads adjacent one another that are associated with a single differential pair to minimize cross talk.
The PC board
16
includes a configuration of keying projections
214
-
217
and notches
218
-
219
configured to fit between keys
170
and sides
160
of the lower shell
14
. The keying projections
214
-
217
, notches
218
-
219
and keys
170
cooperate to insure that the PC board
16
is placed with the top surface
188
pointed upward and is located at a desired longitudinal and vertical position within the plug
10
. The keys
170
are received by notches
218
-
219
, while the keying projections
214
and
215
rest upon shelves
168
(FIG.
4
). The projections
216
and
217
rest upon shelves
169
.
FIGS. 13-16
illustrate top, side, bottom and front views, respectively, of the receptacle shield
50
.
FIG. 13
illustrates the top
52
including ground contacts
98
to afford grounding connections with the chassis. Grounding contacts
96
project outward from the sides
54
to also provide grounding contacts with the chassis.
FIG. 13
also provides a clear view of the guide flanges
100
and
102
.
FIG. 14
illustrates a plurality of tabs
104
extending downward from the bottom of the receptacle shield
50
that are received in the motherboard and soldered thereto.
FIG. 15
illustrates the bottom
56
in more detail including ground contacts
99
and standoffs
101
. The pins
80
and
82
are formed integral with the standoffs
101
. The pins
80
and
82
also are inserted through holes in the motherboard. Optionally, pin
82
may be constructed with a diamond cross-section to permit easier installation on the motherboard, while maintaining proper alignment. The bottom
56
receives the contact regions
72
of the contact fingers
64
near the back
57
. The contact regions
72
are surface mounted upon contacts on the motherboard in order to provide electrical connections between the motherboard and the differential pairs of cable
30
via the PC board
16
, contact fingers
64
.
FIG. 16
illustrates a front view of the receptacle shield
50
showing grounding beams
90
, polarizing key
84
, opening
70
and projections
76
.
During construction, the housing
60
is inserted within the receptacle shield
50
and mounted on the motherboard. The plug
10
is assembled as explained above and mounted to the end of a cable
30
, such as a quad cable capable of carrying high speed serial data. The plug
10
is connected to the receptacle shield
50
by inserting the front face
182
of the PC board
16
into the opening
74
until contacts
180
,
181
and
204
engage contact fingers
64
. The locking member
139
engages the hole
108
in the top
52
of the receptacle shield
50
in order to maintain the plug
10
within the receptacle shield
50
. The biasing forces applied by the latch assembly
18
maintain the locking member
139
within the hole
108
. The latch assembly
18
maintains a grounding connection between the top
120
of the plug
10
and the top
52
of the receptacle shield
50
. Contact guide wings
92
maintain a grounding connection between the guide wings
26
of the plug
10
and the sides
54
of the receptacle shield
50
. Grounding beams
90
maintain grounding connections between the bottom
161
of the plug
10
and the bottom
56
of the receptacle shield
50
. Contact guide wings
92
enable the width of the receptacle to be minimized. Optionally, the grounding beams
90
may be removed and contact guide wings (such as guide wings
92
) may be provided in the bottom
56
of the receptacle shield
50
in order to further reduce the height of the receptacle shield
50
. Contact guide wings
92
afford a lesser profile than needed for grounding beams
90
. Thus, receptacles using grounding beams along either side of the receptacle would require a wider receptacle. Contact guide wings
92
reduce the overall width of the receptacle. The receptacle shield
50
is substantially void of any specific structure in the top
52
for providing a grounding contact with the plug
10
. Instead, the latch assembly
18
is constructed in a manner that performs the dual functions of locking the plug and receptacle together, while simultaneously affording a grounding connection between the top of the plug and the surface of the top
52
of the receptacle shield
50
. In the foregoing manner, the latch assembly
18
reduces the complexity of the receptacle shield
50
and the height of the receptacle.
The upper and lower shells
12
and
14
of the plug
10
are substantially void of any openings in the bottom
161
, sides
160
and
122
, and top
120
, thereby affording EMI shielding characteristics without the need for additional shielding structure therearound. The upper and lower shells
12
and
14
are formed of diecast molded conductive material, thereby affording the ability to include integral features (e.g., shelves
168
, keys
170
, recesses
164
) without forming holes in the shells or adding separate components thereto.
In accordance with at least one alternative embodiment, the contour of the PC board
16
is configured to be loosely received within the lower shell
14
. The sides
191
of the PC board
16
are permitted to float laterally, from side to side between the sides
161
of the lower shell
14
. The lateral float between the sides
191
and
161
permits the face
182
to be properly guided into the opening
74
in the holder
60
.
While particular elements, embodiments and applications of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be understood, of course, that the invention is not limited thereto since modifications may be made by those skilled in the art, particularly in light of the foregoing teachings. It is therefore contemplated by the appended claims to cover such modifications as incorporate those features which come within the spirit and scope of the invention.
Claims
- 1. An electrical connector comprising:a conductive receptacle assembly having walls defining a connector opening, at least one wall including grounding contacts; a conductive plug member for connection to the receptacle assembly in the opening, the plug member having peripheral surfaces electrically engaging the grounding contacts; and a latch assembly mounted to the plug member, the latch assembly having a spring-bias facing plate lockably engaging one wall of the receptacle assembly, the latch assembly has a T-shaped body integrally formed with side flanges, a leading section and the facing plate, the side flanges and the leading section have holes to snapably engage projections from the plug member, the holes and the projections securing the latch assembly to the plug member, the latch assembly being conductive to maintain a grounding connection between said plug member and said one wall of the receptacle assembly, while the grounding contacts maintain grounding connections between said plug member and a remainder of the walls of the receptacle assembly.
- 2. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein said latch assembly comprises a principal body extending laterally and formed integral with side flanges, and extending longitudinally and formed integral with the facing plate.
- 3. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the latch assembly and grounding contacts cooperate to provide grounding connections between each side of the plug member and receptacle assembly.
- 4. The electrical connector of claim 1, further comprising multiple J-shaped ground beams provided along one wall of the receptacle assembly and forward, upward and back into the receptacle to form grounding connections with the plug member.
- 5. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the latch assembly includes a leading section having a lower lip portion received within a U-shaped recess in a front face of the plug member, said leading section being sandwiched between front faces of upper and lower shells in the plug member.
- 6. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the latch assembly and grounding contacts cooperate to provide grounding connections between each side of the plug member and receptacle assembly.
- 7. The electrical connector of claim 1, further comprising multiple J-shaped ground beams provided along one wall of the receptacle assembly and forward, upward and back into the receptacle assembly to form grounding connections with the plug member.
- 8. An electrical connector comprising:a conductive receptacle assembly having walls defining a connector opening, at least one wall including grounding contacts; a conductive plug member for connection to the receptacle assembly in the opening, the plug member having peripheral surfaces electrically engaging the grounding contacts; and a latch assembly mounted to the plug member, the latch assembly having a spring-bias facing plate lockably engaging one wall of the receptacle assembly, the latch assembly includes a leading section having a lip portion received within a U-shaped recess in a front face of the plug member, the leading section being sandwiched between front faces of upper and lower shells in the plug member, the latch assembly being conductive to maintain a grounding connection between said plug member and said one wall of the receptacle assembly, while the grounding contacts maintain grounding connections between said plug member and a remainder of the walls of the receptacle assembly.
- 9. The electrical connector of claim 8, wherein said latch assembly comprises a principal body extending laterally and formed integral with side flanges, and extending longitudinally and formed integral with the facing plate.
- 10. The electrical connector of claim 8, wherein said latch assembly comprises a locking projection formed on the facing plate and arranged to align with a hole in the receptacle assembly, the facing plate remaining biased against the receptacle assembly to
US Referenced Citations (9)